A Guide to the Calvin N. Keeney Travel Diary, 1901

A typescript diary with mounted
photographs composes the Calvin N. Keeney Travel Diary, 1901, documenting a trip
taken by New York residents Calvin Keeney, Frank Woodward, and Charles Stewart to
scout out investment opportunities in the west, including California, Texas, and
Mississippi.

Referred to as the “father of the stringless bean,” Calvin N. Keeney, 1849-1930, was
born in Le Roy, New York to Nicholas and Mary Keeney. He was partner with his father
in the firm N. B. Keeney and Son, a farming company that primarily cropped seeds,
peas, and beans. He is considered one of the chief seedsmen of the twentieth century
and invented a number of bean varieties. He was married to Charlotte Freeman, with
whom he had two daughters.

A bound typescript diary with mounted photographs composes the Calvin N. Keeney
Travel Diary, 1901, documenting a trip taken by New York residents Calvin Keeney,
Frank Woodward, and Charles Stewart to scout out investment opportunities in the
west, including California, Texas, and Mississippi.